Culture

==== ==**Hinduism** is the predominant and indigenous [|religious tradition][|[1]] of [|India]. Hinduism is often referred to as // Sanātana Dharma // (a [|Sanskrit] phrase meaning "the eternal [|law]") by its adherents.[|[2]][|[3]] Generic "types" of Hinduism that attempt to accommodate a variety of complex views span [|folk] and [|Vedic Hinduism] to [|bhakti] tradition, as in [|Vaishnavism]. Hinduism also includes [|yogic] traditions and a wide spectrum of "daily morality" based on the notion of [|karma] and societal norms such as [|Hindu marriage customs].== ==Hinduism is formed of diverse traditions and has no single founder.[|[4]] Among its roots is the [|historical Vedic religion] of [|Iron Age India], and as such Hinduism is often called the "[|oldest living religion]"[|[5]] or the "oldest living major tradition".[|[6]][|[7]][|[8]][|[9]]== ==Demographically, Hinduism is the [|world's third largest religion], after [|Christianity] and [|Islam], with more than a billion adherents, of whom approximately 1 billion, live in the [|Republic of India].[|[10]][|[11]] Other [|significant populations] are found in [|Nepal] (23 million), [|Bangladesh] (14 million) and the [|Indonesian] island of [|Bali] (3.3 million).== ==A large [|body of texts] is classified as Hindu, divided into [|Śruti] ("revealed") and [|Smriti] ("remembered") texts. These texts discuss [|theology], [|philosophy] and [|mythology], and provide information on the practice of [|dharma] (religious living). Among these texts, the //[|Vedas]// are the foremost in authority, importance and antiquity. Other major scriptures include the //[|Upanishads]//, // [|Purāṇas] // and the [|epics] // [|Mahābhārata] // and // [|Rāmāyaṇa] //. The // [|Bhagavad Gītā] //, a treatise from the // Mahābhārata //, spoken by [|Krishna], is of special importance.[|[12]]==

Hindu beliefs and practices:
==At the heart of Hinduism is the panentheistic principle of Brahman, that all reality is a unity. The entire universe is one divine entity who is simultaneously at one with the universe and who transcends it as well. Deity is simultaneously visualized as a triad: Brahma the Creator who is continuing to create new realities Vishnu, (Krishna) the Preserver, who preserves these new creations. Whenever dharma (eternal order, righteousness, religion, law and duty) is threatened, Vishnu travels from heaven to earth in one of ten incarnations. Siva, the Destroyer, is at times compassionate, erotic and destructive .==

Vaishnavaism: which generally regards Vishnu as the ultimate deity Shivaism: which generally regards Shiva as the ultimate deity.
==Simultaneously, many hundreds of Hindu Gods and Goddesses are worshipped as various aspects of that unity. Depending upon ones view, Hinduism can be looked upon as a monotheistic, trinitarian, or polytheistic religion.== == Humans are perceived as being trapped in samsara, a meaningless cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth. Karma is the accumulated sum of ones good and bad deeds. Karma determines how you will live your next life. Through pure acts, thoughts and devotion, one can be reborn at a higher level. Eventually, one can escape samsara and achieve enlightenment. Bad deeds can cause a person to be reborn as a lower level, or even as an animal. The unequal distribution of wealth, prestige, suffering are thus seen as natural consequences for ones previous acts, both in this life and in previous lives. ==

Meditation is often practiced, with Yoga being the most common. Other activities include daily devotions, public rituals, and puja a ceremonial dinner for a God.
==Hinduism has a deserved reputation of being highly tolerant of other religions. Hindus have a saying: "Ekam Sataha Vipraha Bahudha Vadanti," which may be translated: "The truth is One, but different Sages call it by Different Names"==

The caste system:
== Although the caste system was abolished by law in 1949, it remains a significant force throughout India. Each follower of Hinduism belonged to one of the thousands of Jats (communities) that existed in India. The Jats were grouped into four Varna (social castes), plus a fifth group called the "untouchables." A person's Jat determined the range of jobs or professions from which they could choose. Marriages normally took place within the same Jat. There were rules that prohibited persons of different groups from eating, drinking or even smoking with each other. People were once able to move from one Varna to another. However, at some time in the past (estimates range from about 500 BCE to 500 CE), the system became rigid, so that a person was generally born into the Jat and Varna of their parents, and died in the same group. "The caste system splits up society into a multitude of little communities, for every caste, and almost every local unit of a caste, has its own peculiar customs and internal regulations." The Rigveda defined four castes. In decreasing status, they are normally: ==

Brahmins (the priests and academics) Kshatriyas (rulers, military) Vaishyas (farmers, landlords, and merchants) Sudras (peasants, servants, and workers in non-polluting jobs).
== The Dalit were outcasts who do not belong to one of the castes. Until the late 1980's they were called Harijan (children of God). They worked in what are considered polluting jobs. They were untouchable by the four castes; in some areas of the country, even a contact with their shadow by a member of the Varnas was considered polluting. Practicing untouchability or discriminating against a person because of their caste is now illegal. The caste system has lost much of its power in urban areas; however it is essentially unchanged in some rural districts. The government has instituted positive discrimination in order to help the Dalit and lower castes. ==

Hindu sects and denominations:
==About 80% of Hindus are Vaishnavites, who worship Lord Vishnu. Others follow various reform movements or neo-Hindu sects. Various sects of Hinduism have evolved into separate religious movements, including Hare Krishna, Sikhism and Theosophy. Transcendental Meditation was derived from a Hindu technique of meditation. The New Age movement has taken many of its concepts from Hinduism.== = EXTRA THINGS: =
 * ==COWS ARE A SCACRED ANIMAL==
 * ==EVERY ONE HAS GOD IN THEM SO RESPECT EVERYONE==
 * ==ELDERS SHOULD BE TREATED WITH LOTS OF RESPECT==
 * ==CHILDREN AND ELDERS SHOULD BE GIVEN FIRST RIGHT==
 * ==DO NOT BELIVE IN DIVORCE ( THERE EXPECTIONS)==
 * ==ALL GIRLS ARE FORMS OF LASHMI==
 * ==BOOKS ARE A FORM OF GOD==